Bali Bule Hunter

by Michael Powers

  “I see,” Greg nodded, still smoldering at the suggestion he might be more interested in his uncle’s money than actually finding his uncle. “Any other advice?”

  Sam inhaled and exhaled thoughtfully, choosing his words more carefully. “I can only suggest you keep doing what you’re already doing. The consulate can’t get involved until we have evidence of a crime. There are simply too many tourists for us to keep track of.”

  “I understand,” Greg smiled. “Just to satisfy my curiosity, how many Americans have been reported missing recently?”

  Sam glared at Greg, eyes narrowing. “Offhand, I really don’t know. Even if I did know the exact number, I couldn’t release that information. It’s confidential.”

  “Would you tell a U.S. Congressman? My uncle is a huge supporter and personal friend of the Representative from his district. If I call his office, one of his aides will probably call you a few minutes later. I’m told there’s a frightful amount of paperwork involved once a formal Congressional investigation is launched.”

  Sam’s face darkened as he shifted in his leather chair. “Are you threatening me, sir?”

  “Just gathering information,” Greg replied tersely. “Now, how many Americans have been reported missing on Bali in the past twelve months? And how many of them are rich white men over fifty? You can tell me now, or you can tell the Congressman when he calls.”

  Sam’s leather chair groaned as he shifted his considerable bulk. Unable to meet Greg’s gaze, Sam focused on a pile of papers. “I’ll wait for the Congressman’s call.”

  Greg rose to leave. “You’ve been very helpful, Sam. You just told me what I wanted to know. There are several men just like my uncle missing, aren’t there? If there weren’t, you wouldn’t be sweating in this nice air-conditioned office, would you? The locals are gossiping about a serial killer roaming Bali. Maybe there’s something else going on. Maybe it’s all coincidence. The four million tourists who come here each year have a right to know about this new danger, but that might hurt hotel occupancy. Then again, as long as it’s just a few old queers missing, I suppose there’s no real urgency, is there? The American government hasn’t done a thing about these disappearances and won’t until bloated corpses start washing up on beaches where families with children play, isn’t that right, Sam?”

  The two men glared at each other. Sam resented Greg for stumbling onto an alarming pattern. Greg resented Sam and the entire consulate for doing nothing to warn, protect, or find his uncle.

  “I’ve only been on Bali a few days,” Greg continued, “but I know something is terribly wrong here. When I have enough evidence, I’ll go to CNN with it. God help you if it turns out this Consulate sat on information which could have saved the lives of unsuspecting tourists.”

  Sam opened his mouth to reply, but Greg was in no mood to listen. He marched out of Sam’s office, left the consulate, and asked the taxi driver to take him back to his hotel. As soon as Greg left his office, Sam called the consulate’s security chief. “Find out where Greg Simmons is staying and keep an eye on him. In all his thrashing about, he may turn up something useful, if he doesn’t get himself killed first.”

  The silver Toyota following Greg began to annoy him. Who was it? Should he just go up to the car, knock on the tinted window, and ask the driver what he or she wanted? Or keep pretending he didn’t know he was being followed?

  On the way to his hotel room, Greg bought a cashier’s check at the front desk to repay Budi. When he returned to his room, he checked his e-mail. There were a dozen more replies to his fake profile, but not the one he was looking for, so he deleted them all. Messages from his students visiting Europe would normally have called for detailed replies, but he sent them each a quick note instead. Jaya sent a text asking for an update. Greg replied with a description of his trip to the American consulate. He finished on an optimistic note, mentioning Donny’s roommate had promised to take him to Ted. Just as he sent the text to Jaya, his cell phone rang.

  “Hola!” Budi greeted him enthusiastically. “We’re finished. Documents will be ready tomorrow morning. Hey, my assistant checked on that Toyota license and it’s owned by the Indonesian government.”

  “Any idea which agency?” Greg asked.

  “No idea,” Budi replied slowly. “No problem as long as they’re just watching you, right? Maybe they’ve been assigned to protect you. One more thing. Rial spotted a Mercedes following us around all afternoon.”

  “I suppose he’s even more scared now,” Greg sighed.

  “Not really,” Budi laughed. “He knows Yanto and his buddies all drive old wrecks, so he’s convinced it’s some rich bule who wants our bodies.”

  “What you’re really telling me is not to start the serious worrying until we’re being followed by a cloud of thick black exhaust?” Greg chuckled.

  “Exactly! You still wanna meet for dinner?”

  “I do,” Greg assured his friend.

  “We’ll be there in thirty minutes,” Budi promised.

  While Greg was wondering how to thank Budi for all his help, the room phone rang. He reached for the phone tentatively. Since he had given everyone his cell phone number, he wondered who would be calling his room. “Hello?”

  “Greg, it’s Liana! I’m checking to see if you’ve had any luck finding your uncle.”

  Puzzled and pleased, Liana’s thoughtfulness impressed Greg. He wondered how many Americans would follow up with a stranger they met on a flight home. “I met a young man who’s been very helpful. He took me several places and we finally found Donny’s boarding house; the young man my uncle came to Bali to meet. Donny wasn’t there, but his roommate claims to know where I can find my uncle if I pay him.”

  “Be careful, Greg. He could be lying. Can you get him to tell you the location before you pay him?”

  “I’ll give him a down payment, but hold the rest until I actually see Ted.”

  “Good idea, Greg. What about the young man who’s helping you? Can you trust him?”

  “He saw me at Patar and Rainbow looking for Ted, then introduced himself at a café the next morning while I was having breakfast. He seems legitimate. Local business owner who appears to be well known in the gay community. I told him about my uncle and he’s been helping me look for Ted.”

  “What’s his name? Maybe I know him.”

  Greg laughed. “I doubt whether you run with the same crowd! His name is Budi, but I forgot his last name. He owns a couple hair salons. Hang on. I’ve got his business card.”

  Greg fumbled in his pants until he found Budi’s business card. “It just says Budi on his card. No last name.”

  “Using a single name is quite common here,” Liana remarked.

  “He’s bringing Donny’s roommate over for dinner in a few minutes. Tomorrow morning the roommate will lead us to Ted.”

  “Good luck, Greg. I know how important this is to you. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I’m really touched by your concern. I’ll be careful,” Greg assured Liana.

  “Will you call me when you know where Ted is? Before you actually go see him?”

  “Okay. There’s one more thing. A silver Toyota has followed me everywhere since I got here. Budi’s assistant discovered it belongs to the government. Think I should be concerned?”

  “Why would the government want to keep an eye on you? Are you a famous criminal?” she teased.

  “Worst thing I’ve ever done is fail a few kids who napped their way through my class, but I don’t think they’d be following me over here.”

  “As long as they only follow you, and you’re not doing anything illegal, I don’t think there’s any reason to worry,” Liana assured him.

  “I suppose you’re right. Well, I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks again for your concern, Liana.”

  Greg stared out at the ocean, hoping Liana and Budi were exactly what they seemed to be…..thoughtful, generous people who had taken an interest in an American high school teache
r looking for his uncle. He didn’t want to end up missing like his uncle. It was comforting to know that at least one person he trusted back home knew exactly where he was and what he was doing. He could rely on Jaya to report him missing if he didn’t check in each day.

  Chapter 9

  When Greg heard the knock on his door, he checked through the peephole before opening it. He saw two bare brown bottoms and burst out laughing as he swung the door wide open. “I see you both shaved for dinner!”

  Fastening his pants as he entered the room, Budi smiled smugly. “You’ll only see such fine, smooth brown skin on Bali, land of the gods and hot brown bods!”

  Pointing an accusing finger, Rial giggled, “Budi idea! He say Greg need see naked butt for cheering up.”

  “Very amusing,” Greg complimented them. “I’m nominating you both for Bali Comic of the Year. Were you followed here?”

  Budi and Rial nodded as they parked themselves on a sofa. “The Mercedes is a few spots down from the silver Toyota,” Budi reported.

  “As long as they just watch and follow, I suppose we’re okay,” Greg muttered. “I’d really like to lose them before we go looking for Ted.”

  Budi jumped up, eyes gleaming. “I’ve got an idea! I’m so clever, sometimes I scare myself. I have a waiter friend here at Kuta Sands. I’ll exchange my motorbike for his Kijang tomorrow morning before we leave. We can sneak out through the employee parking lot while the Toyota and Mercedes watch the front entry.”

  “What’s a Kijang?” Greg asked.

  “Only vehicle made in Indonesia,” Budi explained. “Metal box with a motor and wheels. I think Kijang is Bahasa for ‘this beats walking, but just barely!’ It’s like a stripped down Jeep Wrangler. Not a great ride, but it seats four.”

  Greg was skeptical. “Think your friend will agree?”

  Budi nodded confidently. “My bike is worth a lot more than his Kijang. He’ll jump at the chance to cruise Bali on my love machine!”

  “When he asks why you want to borrow his Kijang, what will you tell him?”

  “I’ll tell him I need a vehicle that seats four so I can give my friends a tour.”

  “That’ll work,” Greg agreed. “Why will we have to sneak out the back way?”

  “Wow, Greg, you really think this stuff through, don’t you?” Budi observed as he sat back down on the sofa.

  “I just wanna make sure you don’t fumble around for answers when he asks the most likely questions. People get suspicious when you hesitate.”

  When Budi couldn’t think of a reason for secrecy, Greg suggested they tell the waiter they were trying to lose private detectives hired by a jealous girlfriend in San Diego.

  “Hey, that’s good!” Budi grinned as he grabbed two sodas and two bags of chips from the minibar, then returned to the sofa. “Snack?” he offered Rial as he handed him chips and a soda.

  “Nothing for me?” Greg complained.

  “It’s your room, Mr. Bule,” Budi reminded him. “Help yourself!”

  Rial rose from the sofa and handed Greg some chips, which Greg graciously refused. “Thanks Rial, but I think you need the chips more than I do. In fact, load up on chocolate candy bars before we leave tomorrow. I insist!”

  Rial’s face brightened. “You got chocolate?”

  “Yup, and I want you to take all of it, my slim young friend. I’m afraid a light breeze will blow you away, and I don’t want to lose you before you show us where Ted is!”

  Budi stood to leave. “I’m gonna see if my waiter friend is working, then let’s eat. The poolside restaurant is great. When I get back, we can all go down there together, okay?”

  Greg and Rial nodded their agreement.

  “I won’t let you down,” Budi promised on his way out the door.

  Greg and Rial sat in silence for a few moments after Budi left. “Rial, help yourself to anything you want in the minibar.”

  “Thank you, Greg.”

  “Do you want to use my bathroom to freshen up before dinner? Maybe take a shower?”

  “I fine. Maybe later?”

  “How long have you and Donny been friends?”

  “Forever,” Rial replied earnestly. “Like mine brother. Same age like me, but short. Same school. Our family know each other long time.”

  Greg smiled, understanding how comforting it was to have lifelong friends. “Which island are you boys from?”

  “Sumatra. Aceh province in north,” Rial replied, momentarily resenting Greg for living in a rich and powerful country. Then Rial reminded himself it wasn’t Greg’s fault for being born an American. “Our village destroyed by mudslide during monsoon. All family dead. We go many small town. They give little bit water and food. Tell us go Medan, biggest city Sumatra. We live Medan streets almost one year time. Beg for food money. Then meet Yanto. Him say we work for Allah on Bali. We make big money sexing bules. Yanto promise we have place for sleeping and food and keep little bit money for nice life. Other money Yanto give Allah.”

  “How old are you, Rial?”

  “Am nineteen since one month,” Rial announced proudly.

  “Is there anyone left for you on Sumatra?” Greg asked hopefully. “Grandparents? An uncle or aunt? Relatives in Medan?”

  Rial shook his head. “All family dead when village destroyed. Same like Donny.”

  “How did you and Donny survive?” Greg asked.

  “We were at the nother village for friend wedding when mudslide destroy our village,” Rial explained.

  While Greg was absorbing the teen’s tragic tale, Rial decided to ask a few questions of his own. “What California is like?”

  “Is that where you’d like to live?” Greg grinned.

  Rial’s eyes widened as he nodded. “LA, Disneyland, Hollywood, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco! So many great place.”

  “Yes,” Greg agreed. “San Francisco is in northern California, where it’s cool and moist all year. San Diego, where I live, is in southern California, and the climate is more like Indonesia, except not so humid. I know a lot about California, but I’m not sure what you’re most interested in. What would you most like to know about?”

  “My English? Is good enough for job? Not moneyboy job. Real job, like McDonald or Wal-Mart.”

  “Yes, your English is good enough to get a job,” Greg assured him, recalling many people who waited on him at restaurants, retail stores, and other businesses whose English was much worse than Rial’s.

  “Can have apartment with McDonald salary?”

  Greg wanted to be realistic without destroying Rial’s dream. “You’ll probably need a roommate to afford an apartment. If you and Donny live together, I think you can afford a small place. Many young guys share a big house. Having several roommates is a good way to learn American customs.”

  “Yes, better idea. Me and Donny live with other Asia boy. Big house. Learn many things. Maybe drive car?”

  Greg smiled. Rial’s concerns suddenly seemed more like a typical California teen. “Perhaps you can enroll in a school, improve your English, and learn to drive.”

  “Yes! Buy dream car...Toyota Corolla.”

  Greg chuckled. “I think your dream will be within reach, Rial.”

  “Also Donny dream,” Rial corrected Greg. “We make dream together. Medan, we sneak into cinema. See many American movie. Stand at exit when people leave theater. Donny say very loud he losted big money. Must go back theater for finding. No one stop us. We see many movie ten time to learn English. Donny English better than me. Him smart boy.”

  “You like Donny very much, don’t you, Rial?”

  “I love Donny,” Rial grinned. “Not like cc.”

  “Cc?” Greg repeated, not understanding.

  “Lady boy. Man act like girl. Understand?”

  “Ah, sissy! So you and Donny are not sissies?”

  “Donny only person I love. Him family; best friend. When we go Medan, I sick. No walk. Donny stay, make me feel more better. Bring food and medicine. We promise ne
ver leave each other. Three day so long time not see Donny. Hope Donny with Mr. Ted.”

  “I hope so, too.” Greg honestly hoped Donny was with Ted and both were safe. He wanted to meet the young man who captured his uncle’s heart and had such a loyal best friend.

  “You miss uncle?” Rial asked.

  “Yes, very much,” Greg smiled. “Ted is my only family. He and my mother were brother and sister. My father died when I was very young, so Mom and Ted raised me. He’s not my best friend like Donny, but we love each other. He always celebrates my birthday with me, so I got worried when I didn't hear from him. That’s when I discovered he came to Bali, so I came here looking for him.”

  “You good bule,” Rial declared.

  “High praise,” Greg smiled, aware Rial probably had little reason to like the bules he had met.

  Budi knocked on the door. “Hey guys, let me in! It’s your driver!!!!” he squealed whimsically.

  Greg opened the door and Budi strutted in. “I just arranged our ride for tomorrow. A slightly used, but very clean Kijang. We’ll make the switch in the morning. I told him to meet me about nine. You can kiss me on either cheek or the lips.”

  “You’re my hero!” Greg congratulated Budi, uncomfortable touching him in front of Rial. “How about I treat you to dinner instead?”

  “Dinner and a kiss for desert?” Budi bargained.

  Greg shrugged. “Be nice to Rial and he may let you kiss him.”

  Budi glanced at Rial. “No offense, cutie, but I’m hungry for bule meat tonight.”

  “Not offensed,” Rial assured Budi.

  Buoyed by success, Budi continued his playful banter. “What have you boys been doing in my absence? A little male bonding? Discussing how much you miss me?”

  “Rial told me about his life before Bali and I told him about California,” Greg replied. “I’ll tell you both more about California while we eat, okay?”

  On the way to the restaurant, Greg stopped at the front desk to reserve a double room with twin beds for Budi and Rial. Instead, Budi convinced Greg to switch to a suite with two bedrooms. The manager promised the switch would be made while they ate their meal.